Universal waste is a type of hazardous waste that is commonly used and disposed of by businesses and other non-households. This type of waste is permitted by Oregon's Universal Waste Rule to be managed under more streamlined requirements than other hazardous wastes, which encourage the proper collection, recycling, or disposal of these materials. This process is designed to reduce the amount of hazardous waste accumulating in solid waste landfills, leading to pollution of waterways.
In Oregon there are four main types of universal waste:
- Batteries
- Fluorescent bulbs/lamps/tubes
- Mercury-containing equipment (thermostats)
- Pesticides
Collection
Following Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, EHS oversees the collection and storage of universal waste materials and coordinates proper recycling and disposal.
To request a pickup of these items please submit a work request. Please describe the item(s) to be picked up and the location where they are being kept.
Battery Buckets
EHS provides battery bucket containers to departments, offices, and/or office suites that are in compliance with OR-DEQ collection and storage requirements. Other types of containers should not be used to store used batteries.
To request a battery bucket for your area, or to request a replacement, please submit a work request. For replacement requests, please describe the location of the current battery bucket.
Please avoid putting anything in the battery buckets other than used batteries, including plastic bags, tape, sharps, light bulbs, etc.